Why There is No Shame in Relapse

Relapse can be an emotionally painful experience leaving you feeling guilty; however for some, relapse is a stepping stone in the recovery process.

If you have been abstinent from drugs and alcohol for a while, and then use, you may feel many unpleasant feelings such as great disappointment and shame.

Some people need the jolt of a relapse to get them to work their recovery harder. Relapse does not mean you have failed, rather that you need to determine the cause of your relapse so that you can prevent it from happening again.

Signs and Causes of Relapse:

• Hanging out with old using friends: These people will bring up old feelings of using, aiding you in glamorizing the substance use.

• Going to the same places you used to use: Going to these places will remind you of using; bars or clubs. If you were at the point of your using when you were using alone in your room, try rearranging, redecorating, and painting the room eliminating any objects that remind you of using such as paraphernalia and old projects.

• Isolating yourself from family, friends, and your support group: When you begin to turn down invitations to go out, or to participate in family gatherings, you are making yourself alone. Excluding yourself from fun, which you used to enjoy, makes you less interested in the positive aspects of life, leaving room for negative things to come into play.

• Being in situations in which you are pressured to use: It may feel like everyone at the club is using and having a good time; however, that may not be the place to go if you are trying to remain abstinent from substances. Simply do not put yourself in circumstances like being in a bar or club.

• Thinking you can have “just one”: One can always lead to another, and another. An individual’s using history has proven this. Once you have identified your actions as addictive, you know that you cannot have just one of anything, there is no need to test your willpower.

• Not having good coping skills for cravings, or having them and not using them: Coping skills are what will stop you from giving in when you when you are having cravings. Without the use of coping skills, you will always surrender to your cravings and be right back to where you were before you began recovery.

• Thinking that drugs and alcohol will make you feel even better than you already do: Often people will use in celebration thinking of ways to feel add to their happiness. Instead of using to contribute to your happiness, try being present in the moment.

• Stress: People often use to relax from stress. Instead of picking up a substance, use healthy coping skills for stress, such as exercising.

• Experiencing withdrawal symptoms: When you are already feeling ill from withdrawal, it can be easy to think you can cure your symptoms if you use the substances you are withdrawing from. Doing this will actually just bring you back to detox. If you just tough it out through the discomfort, you will be much better off.

• Uncomfortable feelings: In life, there is always a chance to have a bad day, but rather than using over it, try saying to yourself, “This too shall pass.”

• Pain: More and more often individuals are being diagnosed with chronic pain; however, it is important to find non-narcotic relief for your pain in order to prevent you from relapsing.

Everyone works their recovery at a different pace. Sometimes a relapse happens, but when you get back on the wagon, you are stronger than ever. The first step is simply telling someone to take the power out of the relapse.